Sheet-conveyer frame.



No. 669,724. Patented Mai. I2, I90".

T. C. DEXTER.

SHEET CONVEYEB FRAME.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1900.]

(No llodeli) ll Shasta-Sheet l.

WITNESSES:

* INVENTOR ATTORNEY No. 669,724. I Patented Mar. [2, IQDL T. C. DEXTER. SHEET CONVEYER FRAME.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1900., (No Model.)

ll Shanta-Shoat 2.

0., FMOfO-UTNO.,WASNINGTON n c No. 669,724. Patented Mar. J2, [90L I T. C. DEXTER. SHEET CONVEYER EBAME.

' v I (Application aim-1m. 29, 1900. (No Model.) ll .lwats--Sheut 3.

I WITNESI'ES: INVENTOR {J5 ,fiwvzzi/bgmr y 4k 7 ATTORNEY 1m: Nouns PETERS co., PMDTO-LlTHQ-WASHINGYON, n. c.

No. 669,724. Patbnted Mar. I2, I901.

T. C. DEXTER. SHEET CUNVEYEB FRAME. (Applicatiozi filed Oct. 29, 1900.- (No Moduli) ll Sheen-Shoat 4.

N0. 669,724.- Patented Mar. l2, l90l.

' T. C. DEXTER.

SHEET CONVEYER FRAME.

(Application filed 00. 29, 1900.)

ll Shana-Shoat 5.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

P INVENTOR /WM 7 A'TTORQ'EY No. 669,724. Patented Mar. l2, I190l.

I T. c. DEXTER.

SHEET BONVEYER FRAME.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1900.! (No Mullah) ll Sheets- 8h! 6.

WITNESSES: I INVEN'TOR -%CA@WZ ATTORNEY m: NORRIS PETERS c0, FHOfO-LITHO WASHINGTON, mV 4:,

m. 669,724. PatentedMar. l2, IQOI.

T. c. DEXTER. SHEET conv'evan FRAME.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1900.

ll Sheets-Sheet: 7.

(No Model.)

4 zow ATTORNEY PHorou-rlga, WASHXNGTON No. 669,724. Patented Mar. I2, l90l.

T. C. DEXTER.

SHEET CONVEYER FRAME. 4 (Applicatidn filed Oct. 29, 1900., (N0 Model.) ll Shaets-8hoet a.

. I I '5 Q I i N U' a Z & j i

ATTORNEY No. 669,724. Patented Mar. I2, IQDL T. C; DEXTER.

SHEET BONVEYER FRAME.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1900.. (No Model. ll Sheats8hoet 9.

| &

&

ATTORNEY THE cams PETERS c0. mcrroumm, wAsnmamN, 0.0.

No. 669,724. Patented Mar. l2, I901.

' T. 'C. DEXTER.

SHEET CONVEYER FRAME.

(Application mdoco. 29, 1900.,

ll Shoots-Shunt In.

(No Model.)

I'NVENTOR ATTORNEY Nd. 669,724. Patented Mar. 12, mm.

T. c. DEXTER.

SHEET CONVEYER FRAME.

4 (Application filed Oct. 29, 1900.) (No Model.) ll Shoots-Shoot ll.

WITNESSES: F mvEmTo ,JmxL 3% 7 ATTORNEY STATES PATENT j Fries.

SHEET-CONVEYER FRAME.

EPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,724, dated March 12, 1901.

Application filed October 29, 1900- Serial No. 34,752. \No model.

T all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, TALBOT O. DEXTER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Pearl River, in the county of Rookland, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Conveyer Frames for Paper-Feeding Machines,of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the class of sheetconveyer frames which extend from the paper-feeding machines to the printing-presses and are equipped with transverse rollers carrying the tapes which convey the paper from the feeding-machine to thepress. Said conveyor-frame usually rests with its front end upon the feed-board,which extends from the press-frame. Heretofore said conveyor-frame has been formed rigid throughout its entire length to render it self-supporting between its ends, and in order to allow it to be removed from the top of'the feed-board when desired to feed the paper by hand to the printingpress ithas been customary to hinge the rear end of the conveyer-frame to the frame of the feeding-machine in such a manner as to allow said conveyer-frame to be swung up from the feed-board, upon which the attendant of the machine places the paper to be fed to the press.

In the use of sheet-conveyer frames constructed rigidly from end to end, as aforesaid, it is found very difficult to lift the free end of the conveyor-frame from the feedboard and raise it sufficiently to afford the necessary access to the feed-board to allow the attendant to properly place the paper thereon.

The object of this invention is chiefly to obviate the aforesaid difficulty, and to that end theinvention consists, essentially, in the combination, with a paper-feeding machine, of a sheet-conveyor frame formed intermediate its ends with vertically -flexible joints to allow the free end portions of said frame to be folded upon the attached end portion thereof and stand compactly in erect position on the front of the feeding-machine; and the invention also consists in certain novel features of the details ofconstrnction of the conveyei fraine; and it furthermore consists in the combination, with the folding conveyer-frame,of sheetregistering grippers and other important instruments necessary for the proper operation and protection of the printing-press, which grippers and instruments are arranged to be carried in safe and convenientpositions upon the conveyer-frame when removed from the feed-board and in a folded position.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a printingpress and paper-feeding machine provided with a sheet-conveyor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of said conveyer-frame in position for delivering the paper from the feeding-machine to the printing-press. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the arrangement of the paper-conveying tapes. Fig. 4 is a side view of the con veyer-frame in its folded position. Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged side views of the brackets which are hinged to the front end of the conveyer-frame and showing the paper-shifting gripper in different operative positions. Fig. 8 is a detached plan view of the longitudinallyreciprocating cam plate or bar which transmits lateral reciprocating motion to the gripper. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view of that portion of the sheet-conveyer frame to which the adjustable taperoller is connected. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 11 is a'transverse section on line X X in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a side elevation showing the arrangement of auxiliary paper-conveying tapes over the conveyingtapes proper, and Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan view of the adjustable carriers of the aforesaid auxiliary tapes. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of that portion of the sheetconveyer frame on which is mounted one of the paper registering grippers and one of the press-protecting instruments. Fig. 13 is a vertical transverse section on line Y Y in Fig. 12 viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. leis an enlarged vertical longitudinal section on line U U in Fig. 12, and Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse section on line Z Z in Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the impression-cylinder of a printing-press.

B is the feed -board, extending from the press-frame.

tion I).

C denotes the paper-feeding machine, which the conveyor-frame, the construction of which,

with its appurtenances, constitutes my present invention.

The most important feature of said conveyer-frame is its ability of being folded and easily removed from the top of the feed-board, so as to afford convenient access to said feedboard when desired to feed paper by hand to the printing-press. These advantages I at tain by forming the said sheet-conveyer frame with vertically-flexible joints intermediate the ends thereof, so as to allow the end portions of said frame to be folded one upon the other, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

I preferably form this sheet-conveyor frame of metallic tubes arranged longitudinally in sets composed of' sections of tubes b and b, disposed end to end and in line with each other and coupled together by suitable vertically-flexible hinges 0, formed with knuckles 0 above the pivots of the hinges to sustain the tube-sections b b in line with each other when the conveyer-frame is in operative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the draw ings. The rear end of said frame is pivotally connected to ears 0 on the frame of the feeding-machine, preferably by means of sleeves or thimbles b embracing the rear ends of the tube-sections and fastened thereto and form ed with perforated ears receiving through them the pivot-pins which are inserted into the ears 0 said pivotal connection allowing the tube-sections b to swing in a vertical plane and over to the front of the feeder-frame, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The aforesaid hinges c I prefer to form of thimbles 0 tions b, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The said joint is formed of a perforated ear on the end of a thimble cl, which has fastened within it the front end of the tube-sec- Said ear is inserted between similar ears d formed on the bracket D. The pivotpin 61, passing through said ears, completes the connection of the bracket D to the con.- veyer-frame. A knuckle-shoulderd (shown in Fig. 12) on thethimble d, below the pivot d and engaging a similar shoulder on the bracket D, enables the bracket to support the sheet-conveyer frame in proper operative position upon the feed-board. The rear end of each bracket D is formed with an upward projection (1 to which is pivoted a roller d which serves to support the conveyer-frame opposite side of the feed-board, lifts the frontends of the two brackets D and turns said brackets backward and over onto the adjacent portions of the conveyer-frame,and thereby brings the rollers d into position to bear on the feed-board and support the front end of the conveyer-frame. Then by lifting the frame at the joint cand at the same time drawing backward the front end of said frame the sections of the frame are folded one upon the other and compactly onto the front of the feeder-frame, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This folding operation is facilitated by the rollers d riding on the feedboard and supporting the conveyer-frame thereon.

By constructing the sheet-conveyer frame with joints which permit the aforesaid folding of the frame I dispense with the weights heretofore used. for counterpoisingsaid frame, and I also materially reduce the weight and strain on the couplings of the conveyer-frame on the feeder-frame in the operation of removing said conveyer-frame from the feedboard, and I also obtain more convenient access to the feed-board for feeding the paper to the press by hand when desired.

In the operation of supplying the paper from a feeding-machine to the printing-press it is necessary to side-register the paper before it is taken by the grippers of the impression-cylinder. To effect this registering of the paper of various sizes of sheets, I arrange the tape-rollers on the conveying-frame in the following manner, with means for adjusting them according to the size of sheets to be fed to the printing-press: The main tape-roller or feed-roller G is geared to the feeding-ma.- chine and imparts longitudinal movement to the tapes or a, which run upon the rollers e, e, and .6 arranged in the following manner, to wit: The roller 6 is placed at the rear of and in a lower plane than the roller e and the roller 6 is located a considerable distance in front of the roller eand in a lower plane than the roller 6. The tapes (I. a run from the top of the roller 0' to the top of the roller 0, thence down on the front and back on the under side of the roller 6 to the top of the roller 6,

thence down on the rear and forward on the bottom of the roller 6 to the top of the roller 6 and thence down on'the front and back on the bottom of said roller to the bottom of the roller 0, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The object of this arrangement of the IIO tape-rollers will be hereinafter described. The roller 6 isjournaled in bearingsf, formed on the tops of brackets f, which consist of longitudinally-split sleeves embracing the tube-sections b at opposite sides of the conveying frame. Said sleeves are provided with perforated ears f adjacent to the iongitudinal slit, and through said ears pass bolts by means of which the brackets are adjust-ably clamped n the tubular sections. The tape-roller e is journaled in bearings g, formed on longitudinally-split brackets c, which are clamped adjustably on the tubesection I) back of the brackets f and in a similar manner. The roller e is pivoted in bearings on brackets D, connected to the front ends of the tube-sectionsb in the manner hereinbefore described.

In front of and parallel with the tape-roller e is a rod g arranged in a lower plane than the top of'the roller 6 and clamped at its ends adjustably on the brackets f, as shown at 9 On the rod g is wound the rear portion of a sheet of paper g which extends from the top of the rod forward and rests upon the tapes 0, a.

In conveying the paper from the feedingmachine to the press the paper in transit is carried by the tapes ct a from the roller 0 down over the roller e and to the usual feedgages g of the printing-press. By the time the front edge of the paper comes in contact with said gages the rear edge of the paper has dropped from the roller 6 and rests upon the sheet 9 directly over the rod g The frictional contact of the paper upon the sheet 9 in passing over the same serves to check the impetus imparted to the paper by the rapidlymoving tapes a Ct. This checking of the travel of the paper in its approach to the feed-gages g obviates buckling of the front edge of the paper by contact with said gages.

By turning the rod g the sheet g can be wound up or unwound to vary the length of the exposed portion of said sheet, and thus either reduce or increase the friction upon the paper passing over it. Such adjustment is required for difierent qualities of paper.

The dropping of the rear edge of the paper from the roller e,'as aforesaid, is essential to allow the paper to be side-registered after it has been arrested by the feed-gages 9 because the sheet which immediately follows the arrested sheet continues in motion, and consequently overlaps the rear portion of the arrested sheet, as represented by.dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The aforesaid dropping of the arrested sheet relieves it from friction of the overlapping sheet sufficiently to allow said arrested sheet to be shifted laterally to side-register it.

The brackets f and g, which support the tape-rollers c and e, are adjustable longitudinally on the tu be-sections b for the purpose of varying the distance between the rollers e and 6 according to the size of the paper to be fed to the printing-press. For accomplishing said adjustment in an expeditious, convenient, and accurate manner I provide each of the two tube-sections b at opposite sides of the conveyer-frame with a longitudinal rack h, preferably formed directly on the tube by grooves cut across the under side thereof, as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, and I extend across the conveyer-franne a shaft or stout rod h, which is supported at its ends in bearings on the brackets g and formed with square protruding ends for the application of a suitable wrench by which to turn said rod. The portions of the rod directly under the tube-sections b are provided with fixed pinions 77?, preferably formed on the rod by longitudinal grooves cut therein, said pinions engaging the aforesaid racks h. Each of the brackets f is coupled to the adjacent bracket g by a longitudinal rod 7L3. fastened at one end to the bracket f, as shown at 71 in Fig. of the drawings, and extending with its op- .posite end into a sleeve h formed on the bracket g, in which sleeve the rod h is adjustably clamped by a set screw h. By tightening this set-screw the two brackets f and g are fastened to each other. When it is desired to move the two tape-rollers c and a backward or forward, the screws which clamp the brackets f and g on the tube-sections b are to be loosened. Then by turning the rod h the aforesaid brackets are shifted longitudinally on the tube-sections,owing to the engagement of the pinions IL2 with the rack h. It will be observed that by the employment of the rod 71, provided with the pinions 71 engaging the racks h at opposite sides of the con veyerframe, the two sets of roller supporting brackets f and g are adjusted simultaneously and the adjustment is accomplished by one person in a very short time, compared with aseparate adjustment at each side of the conveyer-frame. The aforesaid rod, with its pinions engaging the racks It, also affords the same convenience of adjusting the tension of the tapes a a, which adjustment is accomplished by simply loosening the brackets g on the tube sections 1), loosening the setscrews h, which fasten the longitudinal coupling-rods h to the brackets g, and tightening the clamping-screws which fasten the brackets f to the tube-sections I). Then by turning the rod 72/, as hereinbefore described, the brackets g are caused to move farther from the bracketsf, and thus tighten the tapes a a. As soon as this is completed the brackets g are to be clamped tightly on the tube-sections. The two pinions, as well as the two racks at opposite sides of the conveyer-frarne, are precisely alike to cause the two brackets g to move sychronously and maintain the two tape-rollers e and e in parallelism.

For side-registering the paper preparatory to its being taken by the grippers of the impression-cylinder A, I prefer to employ two paper-shifting grippers l I, disposed in reverse positions in relation to each other and near opposite sides of the conveyer-frame.

IIO

' of the drawings.

This arrangement of grippers I consider very important, inasmuch as in the operation of feeding the paper the first time to the printingpress the sheet is to be registered to one side and when feeding the sheet the second time the sheet is turned over sidewise to present the same front edge to the feed-gages g of the press and the same registering side edge toward the opposite side of the press. The two grippers I and I are mounted on two trans verse bars t' t", which are in line with each other and coupled together at their inner ends by a spiral-spring 11 as'shown in Fig. 5 The bars 7; t" are movable longitudinally and supported in guidest' on the brackets D D and on plates i attached to a bar i which is parallel with the bars 2' t" and fastened to the aforesaid brackets. The aforesaid spring 1? draws the two bars t' and t" inward. Their outward movement is effected by longitudinallymovable plates j, mounted in guides jj on the sides of the bracketsDD. Each of the plates j has its outer longitudinal edge formed With an oblique portionj which constitutes a cam, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and each of the bars vlthas pivoted to its outer end a roller j which by contact with the camj causes the bar to be moved outward in opposition to the spring t during the movement of the cam-platej in one direction. The two cam-plates are moved in said direction independently of each other by means of a rockshaft L, extending across the feeding-machine O and supported in suitable bearings on the frame of said machine, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. This rockshaft receives motion from an arm L, fastened to one end of the shaft and having pivoted to its free end a roller by which it bears on rotary cam'K, driven by the actuatinggears of the feeding-machine. To the ends of the said rock-shaft are secured depending arms L of equal lengths. The lower end of each of these arms is suitably formed for connecting thereto the end of a rod R, which 6X1 tends forward therefrom and is connected to the cam-platej at the corresponding side of the conveyer-frame. The rocking of the arm L imparts reciprocating motion to the cam-plate j by means of the rod R, and said movement of the cam plate, in conjunction with the resistance of the spring 4?, causes the grippercarrying bar to partake reciprocating motion. The rod R is detachable from the rock-arm L and cam platej to allow said rod to be applied interchangeably to opposite sides of the conveyor-frame and transmit motion to either of the gripper-carrying bars t' z" independently of the other, and thus operate one of the grippers ata time.

7a denotes the gripper-shoe, which is formed with a longitudinalv passage 75, extending through the inner edge of the shoe to receive the marginal portion of the paper in transit to the printing-press. The under side of the gripper-shoe has projecting from it jaws by which it embraces its supporting-bar, as shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings. The gripper is movable longitudinally on said bar to adapt it to be adjusted for operating on sheets of varying sizes, and it is sustained in its adjusted position by means of a screw l, fastened at one end to an ear Z, formed on the gripper-shoe 7c. The opposite end of said screw passes throughasmooth-bored eye in a head l formed on a post Z projecting from a shoe, which embraces the gripper-supporting bar and is adjustably clamped thereon by means of a set-screw Z as shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings. At opposite sides of the head Z are thumb-nuts 1 F, applied to the screw Z. The aforesaid adjustment of the gripper is effected by loosening the set-screw Z and shifting the gripper-shoe hand post 7, lengthwise of the gripper-supporting bar approximately t0 the required position and then by tightening the set-screw Z so as tofirmly fasten the post Z on the bar, and turning the nuts Z Z the gripper-shoe becomes accurately adjusted on its supporting-bar.

N denotes the gripper-finger, which is fastened to a transverse shaft N, mounted in bearings 12 on top of the gripper-shoe. One end of said shaft extends across the bracket D at the corresponding side of the conveyerframe and across the adjacent cam-plate j and is supported thereat in a bearing N mounted on the ends of the aforesaid gripper-supporting bar. The shaft N receives an intermittent rocking motion, as hereinaf' ter described, and by said motion the gripper-finger N, attached to said shaft, is actuated to grip and release at the proper times the paper entered into the gripper-shoe. The aforesaid rocking motion is derived, preferably, from the following mechanisms, to wit:

To the outer end of the shaft N is rigidly secured-a radially-projecting lug m, and in front and rear of said portion of said shaft are posts m, to which are ad justably connected studs or tappets m disposed to strike the lug m alternately at opposite sides during the reciprocating movement of the camplate j. Said impact of the stud produces an intermittent rocking motion of the shaft N, which actuates the gripper-finger N.

To cause the gripping-finger to be thrown quickly past the center of its motion and produce a snap action of said finger, so as to quickly and firmly grip the paper in the shoe 70 when thegripper is in its innermost position and to release the paper equally as quick when the gripper has arrived at its outermost position, I form the said gripping-finger with a.rearwardlyextending arm 0, and pivotally connect to the free end of said arm a rod 0, which passes diametrically through a barrel O pivotally supported upon the gripper-shoe k. A spiral spring 0 surrounding said rod and pressing with its opposite ends on the arm 0 and barrel 0 produces the aforesaid snap action of the gripper-finger.

P P re present automatic printing-press condated January 1, 1901.

trollers, which are similar to those shown in my Letters Patent No. 665,072, dated January 1, 1901, and consists, chiefly, of feelers n, pivotally supported on a transverse shaft n, which is secured at its ends to an arm D, extending forward from the brackets D. A rock-shaft n parallel with the shaft 'n, is mounted in hearings on the brackets D and has extending from it arms a adapted to come in contact with upward extensions of the feelers n when at rest and with their lower ends upon the feed-board, as represented in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Said bearing of the arms 01 upon the feeler extensions arrests the motion of the rock-shaft n An arm n, fastened to the end of said rock-shaft, is connected by a rod 0 to the stop mechanism described in my aforesaid Patent No. 665,072, The aforesaid arresting of the motion of the rock-shaft causes the actuating mechanism of the press to be stopped. When the paper passes to the impression-cylinder, said paper tilts the feelers n, and thus the rock-shaft is allowed to move, and thereby the actuating mechanism of the press is maintained in motion.

- Although the aforesaid press-controllers operate automatically, yet I have found it desirable to provide convenient means for allowing the action of the rock-shaft n to be controlled by the pressman, who usually stands at the side of the feed-board. For this purpose I attach to said rock-shaft, preferably at each end thereof, a handle 15, extending rearward from said shaft a convenient distance to allow the pressman to readily depress said handle, and thereby arrest the motion of the rock-shaft n in a position which stops the actuating mechanism of the press.

The advantages of carrying the paper-regtering grippers and the press-controllers P P on the reversible brackets D, pivoted to the described folding conveyer-frame and provided with the supporting'rollers 61 are the safe and compact position of said grippers and controllers on the brackets when the conveyor-frame is folded and removed from over the feed-board when desired to feed the paper by hand.

In the operation of paper-feeding machines supplying paper to a printing-press I have sometimes found considerable difficulty in successfully conveying the paper from the feeding-machine to the press, especially when the con veying-tapes at are arranged as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, which arrangement is designed .to allow the advance edge of a sheet in transit to overlap the top of the rear portion of a sheet arrested by contact of its front edge with the usual feed-gages, (sometimes termed drop-gages g5 of the press,) as hereinbefore described. The aforesaid difficulties arise at times when the paper in transit on the tapes a Ct has a tendency to curl or bend downward at its edges. In the descent of such paper from the top of the taperoller e to its overlapping position on the top of the rear portion of the paper landed at the feed-gages g the downward-bent front edge of the paper in transit is liable to catch on the top of the landed paper, and thereby become curled under and turned back instead of allowing the paper to slide smoothly forward on the underlying paper. Another difficulty has been experienced in the automatic transmission of the paper to the press by tapes, as hereinbefore described, in case the aper is creased across its center on a line parallel with the tape-roller 6. Such creases are usually found in paper which has been shipped in bundles from the mill. In thus shipping the paper the shipper folds about five hundred sheets across the center in a bundle and places a plurality of such bundles one on top of the other, making a large package to be shipped to the printer. When this paper is taken out of the bundles and placed in the feeding-machine, it is found that the sheets have a decided crease across them. When such sheets are placed with the crease in the under side and are conveyed in that position from the feeding machine to the press, the sheet in transit, after passing with its front half over the tape-roller e and into frictional contact with the top of the preceding sheet, leaves the rear portion of the sheet upon the tape-roller e and tapes at the rear thereof, and when in this position the crease in the sheet deprives it of sufficient stiffness to enable it to overcome the frictional resistance of the preceding sheet underlying the front portion of the aforesaid sheet in transit. The consequence is that the overlapping sheet is prevented from advancing. These diificulties I overcome by the employment of the auxiliary conveyertapes a, which are disposed in proximity to and parallel with the tops of the tapes a, a, and especially close to the portions of the tapes running upon the top of the roller 6, as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, in which the rear portions of the top run of the main tapes a a run from the feed-roller F across the top of a roller F, uiounted at its ends in hearings on the side frame of the feeder, and the rear lower or return portions of said tapes run across the top of a roller G on the feederframe and back to the aforesaid feed-roller. The front portions of said tapes run on the rollers e, e, and (2 as hereiuhefore described. Directly over the roller F and parallel therewith is a tape-roller H, and across the front end portion of the hereinbefore-described conveyor-frame extends a bar 10, mounted on posts or brackets 19', fastened to the sides of the conveyer-frame. To the cross-bar p are adjustably secured longitudinal arms q, to the side of each of which are pivoted rollers r r, disposed one in front of the other. The auxiliary top tapes ct run from the bottom of the roller H to the bottoms of the rollers r, thence up on the fronts and over the tops of said rollers back and down to the bottoms of l the rollers 'r', and thence back to the top of the roller H. By means of a train of gears 1 2 3 4 the roller 11 receives motion from the gear 1 on the feed-roller F, which is geared with the feeding-machine.

. To allow the tension of the auxiliary tapes to be adjusted, the arms q are provided with longitudinal slots q for the reception of the bolts 8, by which said arms are ad justably clamped on the cross-harp, as shown in Fig; 11 of the drawings.

The arrangement of the described auxiliary tapes a in proximity to the tops of the main tapes a from the roller F to the roller 6 and bearing upon the top of the intervening sheet prevents the curling or deflecting of the sheet and maintains the same in frictional contact with the main tapes Ct, Which enables the sheet to overcome the frictional resistance of its front portion upon the top of the preceding sheet.

I claim-- 1. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, of a sheet-conveyer frame formed intermediate its ends with vertically-flexible joints to allow the end portions of said frame to be folded one upon the other.

2. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, of a sheet-conveyor frame pivotally connected to the frame of said feeding-machine to swing in a vertical plane thereon and formed intermediate its ends with verticallyflexible joints.

3. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine and feed-board extending therefrom, ofasheet-conveyer frame pivotally connected to the frame of said machine to swing in a vertical plane thereon and supported at its free end upon the feed-board and formed interme diate its ends with vertically-flexible joints.

4. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine and feed-board extending therefrom, of a sheet-conveyer frame pivotally connected to the frame of the feeding-machineto swing in a vertical plane thereon and formed intermediate its ends with vertically-flexible joints, and rollers pivoted to the free end of said conveyor-frame and supporting the same in its folded position as set forth.

5. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine and feed-board extending therefrom, of asheet-conveyer frame pivotally connected to the frame of said feeding-machine to swing in a vertical plane thereon and formed intermediate its ends with vertically-flexiblejoints, and resting with its free end upon the feedboard, and knuckles at said joints to sustain the end portions normally in line with each other as set forth.

6. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine and feed-board extending therefrom, of a sheet-con veyer frame pivotally connected to the frame of the said feeding-machine to swing in a vertical plane thereon and formed intermediate its ends with vertically-flexible knuckle joints, brackets connected to the free end of the conveyer-frame by verticallyflexible joints, and rollers pivoted to said brackets as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine and feed-board extending therefrom, of a sheet-conveyer frame pivotally connected to said feeding-machine to swing upward thereon, and formed intermediate its ends with vertically-flexible knuckle-joints,brackets connected to the free end of the conveyerframe by joints flexible in opposite direction from the aforesaid intermediate joints, and rollers pivoted to said brackets to support the conveyor-frame in its folded position upon the feed-board as set forth.

8. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, of a sheet-conveyer frame formed of longitudinal sets of metallic tubes, each of said sets composed of sections of tubes disposed end to end in line with each other, vertically-flexible hinges attached to the adjacent ends of the tube-sections, and couplings pivotally connecting said frame to the frame of the feeding-machine.

9. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, of a sheet-conveyer frame formed of longitudinal sets of metallic tubes, each of said sets composed of sections of tubes disposed end to end in line with each other, thimbles hinged together at one end and receiving in their opposite ends the ends of the tube-sections and fastened thereto, and couplings connecting said frame to the frame of the feeding-machine as set forth.

10. The combination with a paper-feeding machine, and feed-board, of a folding sheetconveyer frame formed of longitudinal sets of metallic tubes, each of said sets composed of sections of tubes disposed end to end in line with each other, vertically-flexible hinges at tached to the adjacent ends of the tube-sections, couplings connecting said frame to the frame of the feeding-machine, and brackets hinged reversibly to the free ends of the sets of tubes and provided with a bearing at each end for supporting the frame on the feedboard as set forth. I

11. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine and feed-board, of a folding sheetconveyer frame formed intermediate its ends with vertically-flexible joints, brackets attached to said frame between the joints thereof, and tape-rollers pivoted to said brackets.

12. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine and feed-board, of a folding sheetconveyor frame pivotally connected to the frame of the feeding-machine to swing in a vertical plane thereon and formed intermediate its ends with vertically-flexible joints, brackets pivoted reversibly endwise to the free end of the folding frame by verticallyfiexible joints, brackets fastened to said frame between the joints thereof, and tape-rollers pivoted to said fastened brackets as set forth.

13. The combination, with apaper-feeding machine and feed-board, of a folding sheetconveyer frame formed of longitudinal sets of IIO metallic tubes,

each of said sets composed of sections of tubes disposed end to end in line with each other, vertically-flexible hinges coupling together said tube-sections, brackets pivoted reversibly endwise to the free ends of the sets of tubes by vertically-flexible joints, brackets clamped on the tube-sections between the joints thereof, and taperollers pivoted to the clamped brackets as set forth.

14. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine and feed-board, of a folding sheetconveyer frame, formed of longitudinal sets of metallic tubes, each set composed of sections of tubes disposed end to end in line with each other, vertically-flexible hinges coupling together said tube-sections, longitudinal brackets formed with a split sleeve embracing corresponding tube-sections of the sets of tubes, screws clamping said sleeves on the tube-sections, and tape-rollers pivoted to said brackets as set forth.

15. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine and feed-board, of a folding sheetconveyer frame pivotally connected to the frame of said feeding-machine to swing in a vertical plane thereon and formed of longitudinalsets of metallic tubes, eachsetcomposed of sections of tubes disposed end to end and coupled together by vertically-flexible hinges, thimbles embracing the free ends of the sets of tubes and secured thereto, brackets connected reversibly to said thimbles by vertically-fiexible joints and provided with bearings for supporting said folding frame on the feed-board, brackets formed with longitudinally-split sleeves embracing corresponding tube-sections of the sets of tubes, screws clamping said sleeves adjustably on the tubesections, and tape rollers pivoted to said sleeved brackets as set forth.

16. The combination, with apaper-feeding machine and sheet-conveyer frame extending therefrom, of longitudinal racks on said frame, brackets mounted longitudinally movable on said frame and carrying a tape-roller,

pinions pivoted to said brackets and engaging the racks, and a rod uniting said pinions to operate them in unison as set forth.

17. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine of a sheet-conveyer frame formed of longitudinal sets of metallic tubes having longitudinal racks formed directly on them, brackets formed with sleeves embracing said tubes, a tape-roller pivoted to said brackets, a rod extending across the frame and through the aforesaid brackets and having pinionteeth formed directly upon it and engaging the aforesaid racks as set forth and shown.

18. The combination with a paper-feeding machine of a sheet-conveyer frame formed of longitudinal sets of metallic tubes, brackets secured to said tubes intermediate the ends thereof, two tape rollers pivoted to said brackets and disposed one in front of and in a higher plane than the other, brackets connected to the front ends of the aforesaid tubes, a tape-roller pivoted to said brackets and arranged in a lower plane than the aforesaid intermediate tape-rollers, and tapes running from the feeding-machine to the top, around the front and back on the bottom of thehigh intermediate tape-roller, thence over the top, down on the rear and forward on the bottom of the next lower tape-roller and thence over the top, down on the front and back on the bottom of the tape-roller at the free ends of the tubes and from thence back to the feeding-machine substantially as set forth.

19. The combinatson with a paper-feeding machine, of a folding sheet-conveyor frame formed intermediate its ends with verticallyfiexible hinges, brackets secured to said frame in front of said hinges, two tape-rollers pivoted to said brackets and disposed one in front of and in a higher plane than the other, brackets connected to the front end of the frame, a tape-roller pivoted to the latter brackets and arranged in a lower plane than the lower of the aforesaid tape-rollers and tapes running from the feeding-machine to the top, around the front and back on the bottom of the highest of the aforesaid taperollers, thence over the top, down on the back and forward on the bottom of the next. lower tape-roller thence over the top, down on the front and back on the bottom of the lowest of the aforesaid tape-rollers,and thence to the feeding machine as set forth and shown.

20. The combination with a paper-feeding machine, of a folding sheet-conveyer frame formed intermediate its ends with verticallyfleXible hinges, brackets secured to said frame in front of the hinges, two tape-rollers pivoted to said brackets and disposed one in front and in a.higher plane than the other, a rod disposed parallel in front of and in a lower plane than the higher of said tape-rollers, a tape-roller carried on the front end of said frame in a lower plane than the lower of the aforesaid tape-rollers, tapes running from the feeding-machine to the top, down the front and back on the bottom of the highest of the aforesaid tape-rollers, thence over the top, down on the back and forward on the bottom of the next lower tape-roller, thence over the top, down on the front and back on the bottom of the lowest of said tape-rollers, and thence back to the feeding-machine, and a sheet wound at one end on the aforesaid rod and extending forward therefrom as set forth and shown.

21. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, of a folding sheet-conveyer frame formed of longitudinal sets of metallic tubes, each set composed of sections of tubes disposed end to end in line with each other, vertically-flexible hinges coupling tog-ether said sections of tubes, longitudinal racks formed roller pivoted to said brackets, ing across the frame and through said adjustable brackets, pinions on said rod engaging the aforesaid racks, brackets fastened to the tube-sections in front of said adjustable brackets, a tape-roller pivoted to said fastened brackets and arranged in a higher plane than the tape-rollers on the adjustable brackets, a rod in front and parallel with said higher tape-roller, brackets pivoted reversibly to the front ends of the sets of tubes by vertically-flexible hinges, a tape-roller piv-' oted to said reversible brackets and disposed in a lower plane than the lower of the aforesaid tape-rollers,tapes running from the feeding-machine to the top, down the front and back on the bottom of the highest of the aforesaid tape-rollers, thence over the top, down on the back and forward on the bottom of the next lower tape-roller, thence over the top, down on the front and back on the bottom of the lowest of said tape-rollers, and thence back to the feeding-machine, and a sheet wound at one end on the aforesaid rod and extending forward therefrom as set forth and shown.

22. The combination, with the sheet-c0nveyer frame, of two sets of brackets mounted on each side of said frame and the brackets of each setdisposed one in front of the other and each provided with journal-bearings for tape-rollers extending across the frame, one bracket of each set provided with a clamp for fastening it on the frame, the other bracket of each set being adjustable longitudinally on the frame, and longitudinal rods fastened to and extending from one of the brackets of each set and into sleeves on the other bracket of the set and adjustably secured therein.

23. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, feed-board and printing-press, of a sheet-conveyer frame pivotally connected to the frame of said feeding-machine, brackets connected to the front end of said conveyerframe reversibly endwise by vertically-flexible hinges, a transverse bar supported at its ends on said brackets, and a paper side-registering instrument carried on said bar.

24. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, feed-board and printing-press, of a sheet-conveyer frame pivotally connected to the frame of the feeding-machine, brackets connected to the front end of said conveyerframe reversibly endwise by vertically-flexible hinges, a transverse bar supported on said brackets movably lengthwise of the bar, a paper-shifting gripper carried on said bar, mechanism imparting reciprocating motion to said bar and means for opening and closing the gripper.

25. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, feed-board and printing-press, of a sheet-conveyer frame pivotally connected to the frame of said feeding-machine, brackets connected to the front end of said conveyerframe reversibly endwise by vertically-flexible hinges, transverse bars supported on said a rod extendbrackets movahly longitudinal relative to the bars, paper-shifting grippers mounted in reverse positions on opposite ends of said bars, a rooloshaft, arms attached to the ends of said shaft, a rod interchangeably connected to said arms and transmitting reciprocating motion to the aforesaid opening and closing the gripper.

26. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, feed-board and printing-press, of a folding sheet-conveyor frame hinged to the frame of the feeding-machine to swing in a vertical plane thereon and formed intermediate its ends With vertically-flexible joints, brackets connected to the front end of said frame reversibly endwise by vertically-flexible hinges, transverse bars supported on said brackets movably longitudinally relative. to the bars, paper-shifting grippers mounted in reverse positionson said bars, a rock-shaft, arms attached to the ends of said shaft; a rod interchangeably connected to said arms and transmitting reciprocating motion to the aforesaid movable bar, and means for opening and closing said gripper.

27. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, feed-board and printing-press, of a sheetconveyer frame extending from the feeding-machine to the printing-press,a transverse bar supported on the front end of the conveyer-frame movable longitudinally relative to the bar, a paper shifting gripper mounted on said bar, a spring moving said bar in one direction, an intermittent reciproeating longitudinal bar provided with a longitudinally-inclined cam-face and forcing the aforesaid transverse bar in opposition to its actuating-spring and thereby imparting reciprocating motion to'the gripper, and means for opening and closing said gripper.

28. The combination, with machine, feed-board and printing-press, of a sheet-conveyor frame connected to the frame of the feeding-machine, brackets connected to the front end of the conveycr-frame, trans verse bars supported on said brackets movable longitudinally relative to said bars, rollers pivoted tothe outer ends of said bars, a ten sion-sprin g connecting the transverse bars to each other, paper-shifting grippers mounted in reverse positions on said bars, intermittent reciprocating longitudinal bars at the sides of the aforesaid brackets and each of said bars formed with a longitudinally-inclined cam-face projecting laterally from the bar and engaging the roller of the adjacent transverse bar, a transverse rock-shaft, arms attached to the ends of said shaft, a rod interchangeably connected to the said arms and aforesaid cam-bars, and means for opening and closing the gripper.

29. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, feed-board and printing-press, of a sheet-conveyer frame extending from the feeding-machine to the press, a bracket connected to the front end of said conveyerframe,

bar, and means for a paper-feeding a transverse bar supported on said I, i i I v i the gripper-finger attached to said shaft, a lug brackets movable longitudinally relative to the bar, a paper-shifting gripper-shoe mount- I ed on said transverse bar, an in termii tentl yreciprocating longitudinal bar transmitting reciprocating motion to the transverse bar, a rock-shaft extending laterally from the gripper-shoe, the gripper-finger attached to said shaft, alug projecting laterally from the outer end of said rock-shaft, and studs carried on the aforesaid reciprocating longitudinal bar and disposed to engage the aforesaid lug alternately at opposite sides and thereby actuating the rock-shaft.

30. The combination, with the sheet-con- Veyer frame, of a transverse bar supported movably at right angles to said frame, a paper-shifting gripper-shoe secured to said bar, an intermittently-reciprocating longitudinal bar transmitting reciprocating motion to the transverse bar, a rock-shaft extending from the gripper-shoe, the gripper-finger attached to said shaft, a lug projecting laterally from the outer end of said rock-shaft, studs carried on the aforesaid longitudinal bar and disposed to engage the aforesaid lug alternately at opposite sides and thereby actuate the rock-shaft and a spring imparting snap action to the gripper-finger as set forth.

31. The combination, with the sheet-conveyer frame, of a transverse bar supported movably at right angles to said frame, a paper-shifting gripper-shoe secured to said bar, an intermittently-reciprocating longitudinal bar transmitting motion to the transverse bar, a rock-shaft extending from the gripper-shoe,

projecting laterally from the outer end of said rock-shaft, posts mounted on the longitudinal bar in front and rear of the rock-shaft, setscrews adj ustably connected to said posts and disposed to engage the aforesaid lug alternately at opposite sides and thereby actuate the rock-shaft, an arm extending rearwardly from the gripper-finger, a barrel pivotally supported upon the gripper-shoe, a rod pivotally connected to the free end of the aforesaid arm and passing diametrically through the aforesaid barrel, and a spiral spring surrounding the aforesaid rod between the arm and barrel and imparting snap action to the gripper-finger as set forth and shown. 7 i 32. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, printing-press and sheet-conveyer frame extending from said machine to the press, of transverse bars supported on the front end of the conveyer-frame movably at right angles thereto, reversely-disposed paper-shifting grippers mou nted respectively on said transverse bars, a spring moving said bars in one direction, cam-bars movable independent of each other and moving the trans verse bars in opposition to the spring, means actuated by the cam-bars to open and close the grippers, a rotarycam on the feeding-machine, a shaft extending across said machine and receiving rocking motion from said cam, arms attached to the ends of said shaft, and

a rod adapted to be connected to either of said arms and to the cam-bar at the corresponding side of the conveyer-frame as set forth and shown.

33. The combination, with a paper-feeding machine, printing-press, and stop mechanism controlling said feeder and press, of a sheetconveyer frame pivotally connected to the frame of said feeder to swing in a vertical plane thereon, a rock-shaft extending across the front end of the sheet-conveyer frame and supported thereon, feelers actuated by the paper in transit to the press and controlling said rock-shaft, an arm on said shaft, and a rod transmitting motion from said arm to the tripper of the stop mechanism and detachable from said arm to allow the sheet-conveyer frame to be removed from its operative position as set forth.

34. The combination with a paper-feeding machine, printing-press and stop mechanism controlling said feeder and press, of a sheetconveyer frame extending from said feeder to the press, a transverse rock-shaft supported on the front end of said conveyer-frame, feelers actuated by the paperin transit and controlling said rock-shaft, an arm on said shaft, a rod transmitting motion from said arm to the tripper of the stop mechanism, and a handlever attached to said rock-shaft to allow said shaft to be controlled by the attendant of the press as set fort 35. The combination with a paper-feeding machine, feed-board, printing-press and stop mechanism controlling said feeder and press, of a sheetconveyer frame hinged to the feeder-frame to swing in a vertical plane and formed intermediate its ends with verticallyflexible knuckle-joints, brackets pivoted reversibly endwise to the end of the conveyerframe by vertically-flexible hinges, rollers pivoted to said brackets in position to ride on the feed-board when the brackets are in their reversed position, transverse bars sup parted on said brackets movably at right angles thereto, a spring coupling said bars together at their inner ends, rollers pivoted to the outer ends of said bars, paper-shifting gripper-shoes mounted in reverse positions on said bars,longitudinally-movable cam-bars engag ing the rollers on the transverse bars and moving said bars in opposition to their springcoupling, a rotary cam on the. feedingmachine, a rock-shaft extending across said machine and actuated by said cam,arms attached to the ends of said shaft, a rod attached to either of said arms and to the cam-bar at the corresponding side of the conveyer-frame, rock-shafts extending laterally outward from the gripper-shoes, gripper-fingers attached to said rock-shafts, means carried on the longitudinal cam-bars and actuating the rockshafts, as set forth and shown.

36. The combination of the main paperconveying tapes disposed with a downward offset in their plane at a distance from the delivery of the tapes to accommodate asheet 

